Istiqlal Mosque

This extravagantly beautiful mosque sits on nine and a half hectares of land. Incredibly, President Soekarnoto chose a Christian architect to design it. Construction lasted from 1961 to 1967, but its official opening did not occur until 1978. One of the largest mosques in Southeast Asia, Mesjid Istiqlal can accommodate more than 10,000 people and 800 vehicles. It comprises five levels, and its walls, walkways and floors are almost entirely covered with marble from Tulungagung, East Java.